A massive reshuffle of leadership in youth associations in the country is being planned by the Youth and Sports Ministry to ensure leaders are below the age of 35, minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said today.

He said the exercise would involve all youth associations that received funds from the government.

"It is a serious issue because some leaders of youth associations do not want to relinquish their post even though they have exceeded the youth age.

“As such, we have youths who truly understand the needs of the young people not being given places in youth associations,” he told reporters after a dialogue at the Malaysia Social Media Week 2018 (MSMW) at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) today.

Syed Saddiq said the ministry would also discuss with the relevant quarters to reduce the age limit for a person to be defined as a youth from 40 to either 30 or 35.

The previous youth and sports minister had wanted to reduce the age limit to 30, but the move was opposed by some quarters, he added.

On the MSMW, Syed Saddiq said with the explosion of social media, it should be used as platform by ministers and politicians to interact with the people.

- Bernama